Relations between Bulgaria and Hungary that you did not even know about

Many people might not even think so, but the history of Bulgaria and Hungary is intertwined at many points. According to many historians, Hungarian and Bulgarian-Turkish ethnic groups appeared in different parts of Eurasia at the same time. The relationship between the Hungarians and the Bulgarians was not always without any problems; it is enough to think about the Hungarian Conquest.

Between the Hungarian and Bulgarian peoples, many things are similar. The great historical past, the position between Western and Eastern Europe, the Turkish occupation, and the love of thermal waters all connect the two countries.

The Kadarka grape type, which is also popular in Hungary, came to Hungary thanks to the Bulgarians and Serbians.

Before the change of regime, both countries placed great emphasis on finding common grounds. Hristo Botev was liked to Sándor Petőfi and Mór Jókai to Ivan Vazov. However, this mutual interest has long been forgotten.

Evidence on the relationship between the two countries can be found as early as in 965 when the Bulgarians allied with the Hungarians and the German emperor Otho I, writes bulgariaembassy.org. Thanks to this, not only has the ongoing Bulgarian strife ended, but international isolation has also come to an end.

In September 1849, Lajos Kossuth wrote the famous letter of Vidin from the Bulgarian town.

The city Vidin was occupied and annexed to Hungary by King Louis I in 1365. The war against the Turks was going on at that time; at Nikopolis, King Louis defeated the Turks in 1366. However, King Sigismund’s armies were defeated by the Turks in 1396. The Turkish occupation had a great impact not only on Hungary but also on Bulgaria. King Vladislaus of Hungary and János Hunyadi tried to liberate Bulgaria from Turkish occupation with the help of Christian cooperation from Central and Eastern Europe.

In the decisive battle that took place in Varna in 1444, the Christian army was defeated by the Turks.

It might be surprising that the first reading book in Bulgarian was printed in Brasov and Buda. In addition, it is important to highlight the name of Hungarian geographer Félix Fülöp Kanitz. He made the first map of the Balkans. The Russians used this in 1877-78 during the Russo-Turkish War, which eventually proved fateful.

In 2016, the Hungarian and Bulgarian parliaments declared October 19 the miraculous holiday of St. John of Rila, the Day of Hungarian-Bulgarian Friendship. In addition to Bulgaria, Hungary only has an official friendship status with Poland, writes moszkvater.com. This is one of the reasons why it is worth visiting Bulgaria and taking advantage of the many opportunities that Bulgaria offers.

• Bulgaria-Hungary ties ‘strong’, says foreign minister
• Hungary and Bulgaria in full agreement concerning crucial issues and challenges

Source: bulgaria-embassy.org, moszkvater.com